Engine Swap Decision?

Dave In Indy · 08-30-2009, 09:20 PM

Alright, the MR2 bug has bitten us pretty good. I bought a couple, got the girlfriend hooked purely on gas mileage so she bought one. Here's the kicker I bought my MR2 to keep the miles off my 05 Mustang GT which the girlfriend love to drive because it's lightly modded, but is pretty darn fast. I'm running 13s with it as it sits. Well, my girlfriend is taking a cruise in January, and I want to swap here motor and suprise her while she's gone. Hiding the engine and parts isn't an issue so any engine is open. The car is a T-Bar if that matters. There are a few things I would like to see.
1. Car needs to run 14s or better in the quarter
2. Ease of install, wiring is not a problem for me, but I want a quick install without a lot of fab work.
3. Needs to be daily driveable, reliable, and have decent gas mileage.

Medusa · 08-30-2009, 09:24 PM

MR2's are not drag cars. Never were, never will be. You can give it a bunch of power and big slicks, but that's just not what they do well. If you want a good 1/4 mile car, stick with mustangs or whatever.

Sh0ty · 08-30-2009, 09:28 PM

For sheer ease, the 3sgte (2nd gen) is the easiest swap from the NA. You can modify it easily from there.

Medusa · 08-30-2009, 09:32 PM

Agreed.

If you swap a 3rd gen 3S-GTE, it's more power straight out of the box. But If you start doing modifications to a 2nd gen that levels the differences.

And a 3S-GTE will be the easiest swap because it was an OE engine.

mr3 · 08-30-2009, 09:39 PM

He's doing it in a mk1 and doesnt want to do a lot of fab work. You could do the 4age 20v silvertop or blacktop and make some good numbers while getting good gas consumption.

Medusa · 08-30-2009, 09:49 PM

Oops, my bad, I didn't realize this was in the MKI section. 3S-GTE was NOT OE for those.

Yeah, the 20v swap seems fairly popular, but I don't know as much about the MKI's.

Sh0ty · 08-30-2009, 10:16 PM

Whoops, sorry, didn't look at what forum it's in.

Medusa · 08-30-2009, 11:07 PM

That's two of us man.

You COULD swap in a Northstar V8, I saw a video of a MKI running with one of those in it.

Sh0ty · 08-31-2009, 12:15 AM

Oh yeah, that definitely sounds quick, easy and low fab work.

Medusa · 08-31-2009, 12:17 AM

There was about a 1/2" of clearance on either side of the engine. It was still transverse in the engine bay, it was actually pretty awesome.

Dave In Indy · 08-31-2009, 09:24 AM

Northstar sounds like a great idea. I'll get some shingle flashing to build a hood to get the thing to fit in there. LOL I was thinking a 20 valve, but I didn't know if there were other options out there. Is there a turbo motor or anything that can go in there? I take it the V-6 swaps aren't much fun either?

Dave In Indy · 08-31-2009, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Medusa

MR2's are not drag cars. Never were, never will be. You can give it a bunch of power and big slicks, but that's just not what they do well. If you want a good 1/4 mile car, stick with mustangs or whatever.

I agree with that, I love the handling of the MR2s which is why I got those over just buying a geo metro or something. I just want her to have a bit more power.

Medusa · 08-31-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave In Indy

Northstar sounds like a great idea. I'll get some shingle flashing to build a hood to get the thing to fit in there.

No. Just...no.

If you want to give it a bit more power but keep the MPG's up, either 20v or put a small turbo on your motor.

toyotaspeed90 · 09-06-2009, 02:21 PM

find a good late model 4agze...... use the stock C series transmissions.... will make the car quick, but limit top speed.

further, find one with a cut harness and use an aftermarket ecu (something like Megasquirt)..... the s/c's have an electromagnetic clutch in it, so you can wire them to a switch directly on your dash....

On mine (long ago, when I had the heavier/taller geared E series) I was getting 14mpg untuned when it was on, but 40+ mpg on the freeway when it was off.

20V is overrated.... you'll end up with a motor with just a little more than a smallport 4age makes hp wise, and still no torque.... you'll be lucky if you're in the 15's.

toyotaspeed90 · 09-06-2009, 02:24 PM

I guess I should add.... since these engines are built for boost (lower compression, oil squirters, etc) they are also a good candidate for a turbo later down the line, if you want.

08-30-2009, 09:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dave In Indy Some Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 62 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Engine Swap Decision? Alright, the MR2 bug has bitten us pretty good. I bought a couple, got the girlfriend hooked purely on gas mileage so she bought one. Here's the kicker I bought my MR2 to keep the miles off my 05 Mustang GT which the girlfriend love to drive because it's lightly modded, but is pretty darn fast. I'm running 13s with it as it sits. Well, my girlfriend is taking a cruise in January, and I want to swap here motor and suprise her while she's gone. Hiding the engine and parts isn't an issue so any engine is open. The car is a T-Bar if that matters. There are a few things I would like to see. 1. Car needs to run 14s or better in the quarter 2. Ease of install, wiring is not a problem for me, but I want a quick install without a lot of fab work. 3. Needs to be daily driveable, reliable, and have decent gas mileage.

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08-30-2009, 09:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Medusa Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 623 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	MR2's are not drag cars. Never were, never will be. You can give it a bunch of power and big slicks, but that's just not what they do well. If you want a good 1/4 mile car, stick with mustangs or whatever.

08-30-2009, 09:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sh0ty Cage Fighter Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 368 Thanks: 14 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	For sheer ease, the 3sgte (2nd gen) is the easiest swap from the NA. You can modify it easily from there.

08-30-2009, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Medusa Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 623 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Agreed. If you swap a 3rd gen 3S-GTE, it's more power straight out of the box. But If you start doing modifications to a 2nd gen that levels the differences. And a 3S-GTE will be the easiest swap because it was an OE engine.

08-30-2009, 09:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
mr3 Cage Fighter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Plymouth Mtg, Pa Posts: 840 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	He's doing it in a mk1 and doesnt want to do a lot of fab work. You could do the 4age 20v silvertop or blacktop and make some good numbers while getting good gas consumption.

08-30-2009, 09:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Medusa Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 623 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Oops, my bad, I didn't realize this was in the MKI section. 3S-GTE was NOT OE for those. Yeah, the 20v swap seems fairly popular, but I don't know as much about the MKI's.

08-30-2009, 10:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sh0ty Cage Fighter Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 368 Thanks: 14 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Whoops, sorry, didn't look at what forum it's in.

08-30-2009, 11:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
Medusa Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 623 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	That's two of us man. You COULD swap in a Northstar V8, I saw a video of a MKI running with one of those in it.

08-31-2009, 12:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
Sh0ty Cage Fighter Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 368 Thanks: 14 Thanked 18 Times in 18 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Oh yeah, that definitely sounds quick, easy and low fab work.

08-31-2009, 12:17 AM	#10 (permalink)
Medusa Cage Fighter Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 623 Thanks: 9 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	There was about a 1/2" of clearance on either side of the engine. It was still transverse in the engine bay, it was actually pretty awesome.

08-31-2009, 09:24 AM	#11 (permalink)
Dave In Indy Some Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 62 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Northstar sounds like a great idea. I'll get some shingle flashing to build a hood to get the thing to fit in there. LOL I was thinking a 20 valve, but I didn't know if there were other options out there. Is there a turbo motor or anything that can go in there? I take it the V-6 swaps aren't much fun either?

09-06-2009, 02:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 422 Thanks: 0 Thanked 32 Times in 32 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	find a good late model 4agze...... use the stock C series transmissions.... will make the car quick, but limit top speed. further, find one with a cut harness and use an aftermarket ecu (something like Megasquirt)..... the s/c's have an electromagnetic clutch in it, so you can wire them to a switch directly on your dash.... On mine (long ago, when I had the heavier/taller geared E series) I was getting 14mpg untuned when it was on, but 40+ mpg on the freeway when it was off. 20V is overrated.... you'll end up with a motor with just a little more than a smallport 4age makes hp wise, and still no torque.... you'll be lucky if you're in the 15's.

09-06-2009, 02:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 422 Thanks: 0 Thanked 32 Times in 32 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I guess I should add.... since these engines are built for boost (lower compression, oil squirters, etc) they are also a good candidate for a turbo later down the line, if you want.